Endoscope having pipe connection structure and producing method thereof

ABSTRACT

An endoscope having a pipe connection structure includes a pipe of a corrosion-resistant alloy material and a piping block of a corrosion-resistant alloy material, the piping block having a pipe insertion hole. An end of the pipe is fitted in the pipe insertion hole, the pipe and the piping block are connected by welding by irradiating a laser beam on the entire circumference of an area where the end of the pipe is fitted in the pipe insertion hole in the piping block, and an axial length of the pipe inserted in the pipe insertion hole is in a range of 0.5 to 2 times a wall thickness of the pipe.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/354,910, filed Jan. 16, 2009, which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-008627, filed on Jan. 18, 2008. The entire disclosure of each of the above-identified applications, including the specification, drawings, and claims, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

The present invention relates to a pipe connection structure of an endoscope and a producing method thereof.

Related Art

Generally, pipe connection structures in endoscopes configured such that one end of a pipe made of a corrosion-resistant alloy material is fitted in a pipe insertion hole which is formed in a piping block made of a corrosion-resistant alloy material and fixed. Then, the pipe and the piping block are welded by irradiating a laser beam on the entire circumference of the exterior edge of their inter-fit area. An example of such a technique is disclosed, in Japanese Published Examined Application No. HEI 4-25007.

In a pipe and a piping block, their respective metals are melted at the laser beam-irradiated portion and a portion in the close vicinity thereof, whereby they are connected integrally. In the inter-fit area of the pipe and the piping block, an opposite side of the melted portion may not be welded and a gap may be left between the portions where the pipe and the piping block.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

At the pipe connection structure of an endoscope, the pipe passage communicates with the inside of human body during endoscopic investigation. Therefore, if there is a gap in the portion behind the inter-fit area between the pipe and the piping block, filthy liquid may be collected thereat, which may become a source of infection. However, if the inter-fit length is too short, sufficient connection strength cannot be achieved. Further, a leakage of liquid from the inter-fit area is not allowed.

Aspects of the present invention provide a pipe connection structure of an endoscope and a producing method thereof in which a pipe and a piping block can be connected and fixed with sufficient strength and no leakage by laser welding without causing pooling of filthy liquid.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

According to aspects of the invention, there is provided a pipe connection structure for an endoscope, which is provided with a pipe made of a corrosion-resistant alloy material, and a piping block made of a corrosion-resistant alloy material, the piping block having a pipe insertion hole. An end of the pipe is fitted in the pipe insertion hole and the pipe and the piping block are connected by welding by irradiating a laser beam on the entire circumference of an area where the end of the pipe is fitted in the hole formed on the piping block. An axial length of the pipe inserted in the pipe insertion hole is in a range of 0.5 to 2 times a wall thickness of the pipe.

According to aspects of the invention, there is provided a method of producing a pipe connection structure for an endoscope, comprising a step of preparing a pipe made of a corrosion-resistant alloy material, a step of preparing a piping block made of a corrosion-resistant alloy material, the piping block having a pipe insertion hole, a step of fitting an end of the pipe in the pipe insertion hole, and a step of connecting the pipe and the piping block by welding by irradiating a laser beam on the entire circumference of an area where the end of the pipe is fitted in the hole formed on the piping block, an axial length of the pipe inserted in the pipe insertion hole is in a range of 0.5 to 2 times a wall thickness of the pipe.

According to aspects of the present invention, the pipe and the piping block can be securely connected with sufficient strength by laser welding without causing collection of filthy liquid and leak of liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross sectional side view of a pipe connection structure of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional side view of the pipe connection structure of the endoscope in a pre-connection state, according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side view of the pipe connection structure of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view of the pipe connection structure with a rod-shaped member being inserted for the laser irradiation, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view of a pipe connection structure when the inner surface of the pipe connection structure is finished, according to the embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, referring to accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 shows a pipe connection structure which forms a suction pipe-line and the like in an endoscope. An example of an endoscope having a pipe connection structure, to which the embodiments of the invention are applicable, is U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,015, teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. In the example shown in FIG. 3, one end of a pipe 1 for allowing fluid to pass through is connected with a piping block 2 and fixed thereto. The piping block 2 is formed in the shape of a hollow cylinder with one end side is closed. Each of the pipe 1 and the piping block 2 is a hollow cylindrical member made of a corrosion-resistant alloy material such as stainless steel (e.g., SUS 304).

FIG. 1 shows an enlarged view of the area where the pipe 1 and the piping block 2 are connected, and FIG. 2 shows the pipe 1 and the piping block 2 before they are connected. In the piping block 2, a communicating hole 3 is formed. The communication hole 3 has substantially the same inner diameter size as that of the pipe 1.

A pipe insertion hole 4 having an inner diameter which is sized to fit with the end of the pipe 1 and is formed to have a diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the communicating hole 3. The pipe insertion hole 4 is formed to have a shoulder to which the end surface of the pipe 1 is contacted. The piping block 2 is further provided with a clearance hole 5 which is formed to be a large diameter on the surface from which the pipe 1 is inserted. The communicating hole 3, the pipe insertion hole 4 and the clearance hole 5 are formed coaxially, and are arranged along the central axis of the coaxially provided holes. The pipe insertion hole 4 is formed such that the pipe 1 tightly fits in the pipe insertion hole 4 without loosening (e.g., an outer diameter of the pipe 1 plus 0.05 mm or less).

The depth d of the pipe insertion hole 4 (i.e., an inter-fit length along the axis of the pipe 1 with respect to the insert hole 4) is substantially equal to the wall thickness t of the pipe 1. That is, d˜t, in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, a laser beam R is emitted from outside toward the entire circumference of the exterior edge of the inter-fit area when one end of the pipe 1 is fitted in the pipe insertion hole 4. With this process, the pipe 1 and the piping block 2 are securely connected by welding (seam welding). In FIG. 1, the portion indicated by a numeral 6 is the welded area where the pipe 1 and piping block 2 are fused and integrally connected.

The laser beam R is emitted from outside toward the entire circumference of the exterior edge of the inter-fit area of the pipe 1 and the pipe insertion hole 4 at an angle of 5 to 60 degrees (i.e., 5°≤θ≤60°) with respect to the axis of the end side of the pipe 1.

When the irradiation angle θ is smaller than 5 degrees or larger than 60 degrees, it becomes difficult to accurately irradiate with the laser beam R on the exterior edge of the inter-fit area of the pipe 1 and the pipe insertion hole 4. Incidentally, a YAG laser is used as the laser beam R, for example.

When the pipe 1 and the piping block 2 are welded according to the above manner, since the inter-fit length d of the pipe 1 with respect to the insert hole 4 is substantially the same as the wall thickness t of the pipe 1, the inter-fit area is included in the welded area 6, and no gap is left in the inter-fit area.

Therefore, the pipe 1 and the piping block 2 can be connected with sufficient strength without causing collection of filthy liquid and leakage thereof. Moreover, the welding can be completed in a very short time, for example, approximately in ten seconds.

It should be noted that, when the inter-fit length d of the pipe 1 is approximately no more than 2 times the wall thickness t of the pipe 1, the inter-fit area is wholly included in the welded area 6, and no gap is left. When the inter-fit length d is approximately at least 0.5 times the wall thickness t, sufficient welding strength can be achieved. Therefore, the inter-fit length d along the axis of the pipe 1 with respect to the insert hole 4 may be in the range of 0.5 to 2 times the wall thickness t of the pipe 1.

FIG. 4 shows a condition where a solid or a hollow rod-shaped (i.e., cylindrical) member 10 made of a material such as copper, which is infusible by the laser beam R of a YAG laser is fitted in the pipe 1 and the piping block 2 during the irradiation with laser beam R for connecting the pipe 1 and the piping block 2.

The rod-shaped member 10 is inserted from the outside and is fitted in the pipe 1 at a position corresponding to the area irradiated with the laser beam R. With the rod-shaped member 10, irradiation of the laser beam R to portions which should not be or are unnecessary to be irradiated can be prevented.

Further, each internal wall surface of the pipe 1 and the piping block 2 can be prevented from being finished as a rough uneven state. Incidentally, the rod-shaped member 10 may be made of gold or silver, however, the costs will be increased.

Optionally, when the laser beam R irradiation process has been finished, as shown in FIG. 5, the internal wall surface of the welded area 6 of the pipe 1 and the piping block 2 which have been roughened by the laser beam R irradiation may be finished to be a smooth surface with polishing using a micro grindstone 11 and the like.

According to the above-described embodiment, the pipe 1 is fitted in the insert hole 4 formed on the piping block 2 for temporarily fixing the connection therebetween. At this stage, the end of the pipe 1 is abutted against the bottom surface of the insert hole 4. Then, by appropriately adjusting the welding depth of the laser beam R, the fitted portions of the pipe 1 and piping block 2, and the bottom of the insert hole 4 against which the end of the pipe 1 is abut are welded. Since the connected portions are completely molten and then connected integrally, no interspace is formed therebetween.

The present disclosure relates to the subject matters contained in Japanese Patent Applications No. 2008-008627, filed on Jan. 18, 2008, and No. 2008-239029, filed on Sep. 18, 2008, which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pipe connection structure for an endoscope, the pipe connection structure comprising: a first pipe of a corrosion-resistant alloy material; a second pipe; a cylinder provided between the first pipe and the second pipe to form a suction pipeline in the endoscope; a piston slidably fitted in the cylinder to move in an axial direction of the cylinder and configured to selectively connect and disconnect passages of the first pipe and the second pipe; and a piping block of a corrosion-resistant alloy material, the piping block having a pipe insertion hole, wherein an end of the first pipe is fitted in the pipe insertion hole, the first pipe and the piping block are connected by welding by irradiating a laser beam on the entire circumference of an area where the end of the first pipe is fitted in the pipe insertion hole in the piping block, an axial length of the first pipe inserted in the pipe insertion hole is in a range of 0.5 to 2 times a wall thickness of the first pipe.
 2. The pipe connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the axial length of the first pipe inserted in the pipe insertion hole is substantially the same as the wall thickness of the first pipe.
 3. The pipe connection structure according to claim 1, wherein: the piping block has a communication hole which communicates with the inside of the first pipe, the pipe insertion hole and the communication hole are arranged next to each other, the pipe insertion hole has a larger diameter than the communication hole such that a step is provided between the pipe insertion hole and the communication hole, and an end side surface of the first pipe contacts the step provided between the pipe insertion hole and the communication hole. 